The movie Prometheus by famed director Ridley Scott brought back the nostalgia from the Alien franchise and introduced a dark mysticism to the lore that fans didn’t know they needed. If you enjoyed watching it, here is a list of similar movies like Prometheus we think you will like.
Released in 2012, the movie Prometheus serves as a prequel to the highly popular ‘Alien’ franchise of films and seeks to answer the question – where did life originate? (in context of the film’s universe). Based on a recent discovery of cave paintings depicting giant creatures called ‘Engineers’ who supposedly created life, a group of scientists/astronauts embark on a mission to a distant planet to find these creators and learn about the origin of humanity.
However, as sci-fi thriller movies go, things slowly start going wrong as our crew arrives on the alien planet. The team encounters weird alien creatures and plants that attack them and they get disrupted and separated. The film has a great cast and the cinematography and visual effects are the best in class. While some hardcore fans of the old Alien movies are not too fond of this film, it’s a great standalone sci-fi movie that deserves to be watched. Here is a list of sci-fi movies like Prometheus you should check out at least once:
List Of Movies like Prometheus (2012)
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Alien
Alien (1979) is possibly one of the most iconic science fiction movies of all time and inspired generations of filmmakers to create great movies. Released over 40 years ago, the film was one of the most innovative and creatively designed movies of the time and established Ridley Scott as one of the greatest sci-fi directors of all time.
More importantly, Prometheus effectively serves as a prequel to the Alien trilogy of films. If you have seen Prometheus but haven’t seen the original trilogy, you are missing out. One of the reviews on IMDB even calls it ‘A masterclass in sci-fi horror filmmaking’, which it truly is. If you’re looking for the best movies like Prometheus, Alien should your first choice. As long as you are checking out the original Alien, you should also watch the sequels Alien 2 and 3.
Alien Covenant
Alien Covenant is also part of the Alien franchise and can be called a quasi-prequel to the events of the film Prometheus. For a full understanding of the events in Prometheus, you will need to watch Alien Covenant, even though it was released a few years after Prometheus. Alien Covenant is a much more mystical movie that dives deep into the lore of the Alien franchise.
Just like Prometheus, Alien Covenant boasts a great cast led by the super talented Michael Fassbender, Katherine Waterson, Guy Pierce and many more. It also has some of the most beautiful cinematography and VFX works seen in modern films. It also delves into the origin of how the first ‘Alien’ was genetically engineered. Alien Covenant is a must-watch for those who are looking for movies like Prometheus.
Interstellar
Interstellar by famed director Christopher Nolan is one of the most iconic films of the 21st century and there is a high chance that you may have already seen this. However, the film deserves a spot on this list because the story is somewhat similar to Prometheus. The main characters in Interstellar also go on a hunt for new planets in outer space, but they are looking for habitable new worlds rather than the origin of mankind.
Everything about this film, from the gorgeous IMAX shots, impeccable camera work to the absolutely haunting soundtrack by Hans Zimmer is perfect. Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway are great as lead characters and Jessica Chastain who plays the adult daughter of Cooper (Matthew) is a perfect choice. If you are looking for sci-fi movies like Prometheus, Interstellar is one of the top films you should check out.
Life
The 2017 movie ‘Life’ starring Jake Gyllenhaal, Ryan Reynolds, Rebecca Ferguson was not very popular at the box office. However, the film was appreciated a lot more as a thrilling sci-fi horror after it was released on digital and DVD. In the movie, a group of astronauts and scientists on the International Space Station (ISS) encounter an alien creature that is out to get them. If you are looking for films like Prometheus, this one should be on your list.
This newly found alien creature proves to be a serious threat as it constantly evolves and kills off the ISS residents. Fans of horror will truly love the film as it has some genuinely scary scenes that will keep you at the edge of your seats. The cinematography and special effects are also decent and the excellent acting by the cast makes it an enjoyable experience.
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Arrival
The movie Arrival from genius director Dennis Villeneuve is already considered by many to be one of the best sci-fi movies of all time. Amy Adams is phenomenal as the lead and Jeremy Renner serves as a great supporting actor to her character. The film begins as a set of spaceships land on Earth and Dr Banks(Amy Adams) is called in to help communicate with the aliens.
The film delves into deep scientific concepts of the non-linear nature of time and how language can be used to communicate through time and space. The music and cinematography in the film are top-notch and the story is very well-paced. If you have not yet seen Arrival, it is one of the best movies similar to Prometheus.
Blade Runner 2049
Blade Runner 2049, the second movie on this list by director Dennis Villeneuve, is considered by film enthusiasts as a cyberpunk masterpiece. This movie is a sequel to the highly popular 1982 film Blade Runner. Alongside the Alien franchise, the original Blade Runner was also one of the most loved films of the 80s.
Ryan Reynolds plays a great lead and Harrison Ford’s performance is unmissable. You will definitely enjoy the beautiful cinematography and special effects in Blade Runner 2049 and the film’s story has some great twists that you will never see coming. People looking for movies like Prometheus with a great story and superb action will definitely love watching Blade Runner 2049.
Sunshine
The 2007 movie Sunshine by director Danny Boyle did not get a lot of love when it was first released in the theatres but over the years it has become a very well-loved cult classic among sci-fi fans. Although it has been a few years since I saw this film, I remember it having quite a big impact on me. There are some truly brilliant moments in the film and a great cast of actors.
The special effects in this movie are absolutely breathtaking the story is fast-paced and will keep you hooked from the beginning to the end. The film follows a group of astronauts on a mission to restart the dying Sun with a giant nuclear bomb. Some elements of the film are also clearly inspired by the Alien franchise, so you should definitely watch Sunshine if you’re looking for movies similar to Prometheus.
Ad Astra
Ad Astra is sort of a weird film that not everyone may enjoy watching but has plenty of similarities with Prometheus. In the film, astronaut Roy McBride(Brad Pitt) sets out into space on a mission to look for father Cliff McBride(Tommy Lee Jones), who is also an astronaut and went missing on his last space mission. Roy sets out looking for his father on a ship sponsored by NASA as they believe Cliff McBride is behind a series of dark matter surges that have been affecting the Earth.
While this film looks like sci-fi on the surface, on a deeper level, the film is about human relationships. The film explores familiar topics such as a troubling father-son relationship, abandonment issues and what it truly means to be family. Brad Pitt delivers a great acting performance and Tommy Lee Jones as a cold-hearted scientist is perfect in his role. If you’re looking for the movies like Prometheus, you should definitely check out Ad Astra.
Annihilation
Just like Prometheus, Annihilation is a great sci-fi film that delves into the territory of cosmic horror. When the film was released in theatres and on Netflix, it instantly received rave reviews. However, there are also reviewers who found the film, not to their liking but for people who like sci-fi horror, the film is a masterpiece. Natalie Portman gives one of the best performances of her career as the scientist Lena, who ventures deep into a weird mysterious forest affected by some alien contamination.
Annihilation has one of the most interesting and fast-paced stories with unbelievably good special effects work. The eerie soundtrack of the film manages to create a very creepy atmosphere. The creatures depicted in the film are truly otherworldly. While the first half of the film is deeply interesting, the second half of the film gets seriously weird, psychedelic and super intense (in a very good way). Annihilation is one of the best movies like Prometheus you can watch.
Moon
The 2009 film ‘Moon’, shot on a tiny budget of only $5 million, left the filmmaking community and sci-fi fans stunned when it was released. The film follows the story of an astronaut called Sam Bell(played by Sam Rockwell) who has been on the Moon for 3 years and is taking care of a Helium mining facility. Although the film starts out quite innocently, things start to get increasingly strange as he discovers that he is not alone, but another person who looks exactly like him is also hiding in the facility.
Describing any more of the plot would ruin the movie experience, and it is something you do not want to miss. This film managed to create an amazingly original story with a very limited cast and resources. To this day, ‘Moon’ is considered to be an iconic sci-fi breakthrough in storytelling. If you are looking for superbly unique movies like Prometheus, you should definitely watch Moon.
Honourable Mention: The Expanse (TV Show)
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